The Scrape of Things to Come - Phase 7: Inner Planets Missions

[Guest]

1 hour ago, TheSaint said:

Well, the reality is that the radio telescope part from Triple-Z Radio Astronomy Telescope won't fit in a 3.75m cargo bay. So, if you're going to violate your own rules, do it with panache....

wdym, "violate your own rules"?

[TheSaint]

14 minutes ago, Random-E said:

wdym, "violate your own rules"?

 

On 12/21/2021 at 10:41 PM, TheSaint said:

<snip>

It's a sandbox save, no fund or science restrictions. I'm just setting my own restrictions and goals, doing my own thing.

<snip>

For starters, Kongress made it plain that, as far as launch vehicles went, they were only going to provide budget for the spaceplane. All other previous launch vehicle programs would be retired, and there would be no other launch vehicles forthcoming. So, in the immortal words of trainee engineer Araceli Krebs, "If it don't fit..."

<snip>

"...it don't ship." Everything that would be lifted into space would be limited in size and weight to the payload capacity of the spaceplane.

<snip>

So, I made one exception (so far). Not because something I wanted to build was too big, but because one part I wanted to use was too big.

Edited March 30, 2022 by TheSaint

[Guest]

gotcha!

sorry for the accidental insult 

[TheSaint]

2 minutes ago, Random-E said:

gotcha!

sorry for the accidental insult 

None taken.

[TheSaint]

Sorry, been a busy week IRL. Hopefully will get another update up tonight or tomorrow.

[TheSaint]

Mission 402 - Minimus Station Truss and Supply Module

As The Mun slowly revolves around to bring Farside Base back into daylight, KSP management begins the task of constructing Minimus Station. Minimus Station will be the first outpost around the distant moon, and will initially provide a simple staging point to gather personnel and equipment that is destined for the surface of Minimus, much the same way Mun Station has. However, in the longer term, Minimus Station will be expanded into a larger station that will provide refueling services for ships in the Kerbin system and act as a staging point for interplanetary journeys.

The first two modules that will be brought up for Minimus Station will be the station's power truss and its supply module.

This mission will be flown by the spaceplane Freedom, and her flight crew is as follows:

Commander Elaine Kohn
Pilot Dominic Kozak
Flight Engineer Judi Keith
Payload Specialist Clayton Kilgore
Mission Specialist Irwin Kimmel
Mission Specialist Phillip Kemper

Freedom takes to the sky on a bright morning, and soon it is orbiting Kerbin once more.

While Freedom is waiting for its rendezvous burns, Orbital Tug 2 arrives in Kerbin orbit and circularizes. Its first rendezvous burn is almost two hours away.

Then Freedom performs its rendezvous burns and it is soon docked at Kerbin Station.

Now that they have reached Kerbin Station. they get to work delivering their cargo. Payload Specialist Kilgore erects the compact truss module in Freedom's cargo bay.

Then Assistant Pilot Kearney fires up Cargo Drone 1 and brings it over to dock with the compact truss.

Then, using the drone to extract the truss, he guides it over and docks it to Kerbin Station's docking complex.

Then he undocks the drone and brings it back around to Freedom's cargo bay again to dock with the supply module.

He then extracts the supply module and docks it to a different port on the docking complex. It will be moved later to dock with the completed structure of Minimus Station.

Then he moves the drone back to its usual parking spot on the end of the escape pod hub.

Because Freedom has space available in its cargo bay, it will be bringing the Cepheus upper stage back to Kerbin. Captain Koontz takes control of the Cepheus and guides it over to dock with the cargo erector in Freedom's cargo bay.

Once the stage has been docked, it can be completely safed. Its RCS thrusters are shut down, and its remaining propellants are vented into space. Then Payload Specialist Kilgore folds the stage back into the cargo bay.

Once the erector has been locked in its stowed position, it is time for another EVA to secure the Cepheus in the bay. Engineers Keene and Kent suit up and exit the station airlock.

They maneuver themselves down to the cargo bay and secure the struts that will hold the upper stage in place during reentry.

Then they return to the airlock to join the rest of the crew in their traditional end of mission meal.

While they are celebrating, Orbital Tug 2 reaches its rendezvous burns and is soon approaching Kerbin Station. No BAR for you, Kearney!

Kearney takes the handoff of the tug from Mission Control and then guides it in to dock with the station. He docks it with the existing stack of rover capsules to help keep the ports on the docking complex clear.

Also, while these events are taking place, Cargo Tug 1 arrives in Mun orbit and circularizes in its initial parking orbit.

Now the crew of Freedom is awakened for reentry. They say their goodbyes and close the hatches, then break away from the station.

They burn for reentry, and soon they are guiding Freedom in for a landing at KSC.

Freedom's mission is a great success, having both started the construction of Minimus Station and completed the return of the Cepheus upper stage. The next mission will bring up the Minimus Station core module.

[Guest]

7 hours ago, TheSaint said:

Mission 402 - Minimus Station Truss and Supply Module

As The Mun slowly revolves around to bring Farside Base back into daylight, KSP management begins the task of constructing Minimus Station. Minimus Station will be the first outpost around the distant moon, and will initially provide a simple staging point to gather personnel and equipment that is destined for the surface of Minimus, much the same way Mun Station has. However, in the longer term, Minimus Station will be expanded into a larger station that will provide refueling services for ships in the Kerbin system and act as a staging point for interplanetary journeys.

The first two modules that will be brought up for Minimus Station will be the station's power truss and its supply module.

This mission will be flown by the spaceplane Freedom, and her flight crew is as follows:

Commander Elaine Kohn
Pilot Dominic Kozak
Flight Engineer Judi Keith
Payload Specialist Clayton Kilgore
Mission Specialist Irwin Kimmel
Mission Specialist Phillip Kemper

Freedom takes to the sky on a bright morning, and soon it is orbiting Kerbin once more.

While Freedom is waiting for its rendezvous burns, Orbital Tug 2 arrives in Kerbin orbit and circularizes. Its first rendezvous burn is almost two hours away.

Then Freedom performs its rendezvous burns and it is soon docked at Kerbin Station.

Now that they have reached Kerbin Station. they get to work delivering their cargo. Payload Specialist Kilgore erects the compact truss module in Freedom's cargo bay.

Then Assistant Pilot Kearney fires up Cargo Drone 1 and brings it over to dock with the compact truss.

Then, using the drone to extract the truss, he guides it over and docks it to Kerbin Station's docking complex.

Then he undocks the drone and brings it back around to Freedom's cargo bay again to dock with the supply module.

He then extracts the supply module and docks it to a different port on the docking complex. It will be moved later to dock with the completed structure of Minimus Station.

Then he moves the drone back to its usual parking spot on the end of the escape pod hub.

Because Freedom has space available in its cargo bay, it will be bringing the Cepheus upper stage back to Kerbin. Captain Koontz takes control of the Cepheus and guides it over to dock with the cargo erector in Freedom's cargo bay.

Once the stage has been docked, it can be completely safed. Its RCS thrusters are shut down, and its remaining propellants are vented into space. Then Payload Specialist Kilgore folds the stage back into the cargo bay.

Once the erector has been locked in its stowed position, it is time for another EVA to secure the Cepheus in the bay. Engineers Keene and Kent suit up and exit the station airlock.

They maneuver themselves down to the cargo bay and secure the struts that will hold the upper stage in place during reentry.

Then they return to the airlock to join the rest of the crew in their traditional end of mission meal.

While they are celebrating, Orbital Tug 2 reaches its rendezvous burns and is soon approaching Kerbin Station. No BAR for you, Kearney!

Kearney takes the handoff of the tug from Mission Control and then guides it in to dock with the station. He docks it with the existing stack of rover capsules to help keep the ports on the docking complex clear.

Also, while these events are taking place, Cargo Tug 1 arrives in Mun orbit and circularizes in its initial parking orbit.

Now the crew of Freedom is awakened for reentry. They say their goodbyes and close the hatches, then break away from the station.

They burn for reentry, and soon they are guiding Freedom in for a landing at KSC.

Freedom's mission is a great success, having both started the construction of Minimus Station and completed the return of the Cepheus upper stage. The next mission will bring up the Minimus Station core module.

thanks for making this mission report

[TheSaint]

Mission 309 - Hydrolox Tank

Okay, I lied. Instead of the core module for Minimus Station, the next mission will be bringing up another hydrolox tank for Mun Station. The existing tank there will not be sufficient to refuel the cargo lander for the two remaining landings required to finish construction of Farside Base, so in order to ensure that the base construction can be completed during the next Munar day, another tank should be delivered before day breaks on the base site. This flight will also provide an opportunity to return more used equipment from Kerbin Station for recycling.

Opportunity will be flying this mission, her flight crew is:

Commander Darryl Koehler
Pilot Hannah Kinnard
Flight Engineer Stella Kunz
Payload Specialist Goldie Kennedy
Mission Specialist Bob Keen
Mission Specialist Sydney Kirchner

Opportunity's crew finishes their pre-flight checks, then Commander Koehler runs the engines up to full throttle and lifts her off for her sixth mission. Soon they are coasting in LKO and awaiting their first rendezvous burn.

After their burns, Pilot Kinnard takes the helm and coolly guides Opportunity in to dock at Kerbin Station.

Once they have all said hello, they set about to their delivery. Payload Specialist Kennedy erects the tank in the cargo bay.

Then Assistant Pilot Koonce fires up Cargo Drone 1 and brings it around to dock with the tank.

Real estate on the docking complex is becoming more scarce these days, so Koonce will need to bring the tank around to the nadir side of the docking arms to find an open berth that has the clearance necessary to stack the tank with the orbital tug. So he undocks the tank from the cargo bay and then threads it through the station structure to its destination.

Once the tank has been docked at its berth, Koonce undocks the drone and brings it around to a temporary parking berth on the docking arm.

Now XO Keegan takes control of Orbital Tug 2, undocks it from the stack of rubbish valuable used modules awaiting recycling, and then brings it around to the other side of the docking arm to mate it with the hydrolox tank.

And not a minute too soon. The tug's departure window is only fifteen minutes away! Keegan undocks the tug and tank, then guides it away from the station.

Mission Control takes over control of the tug, uploads its flight plan, and then it burns for Munar orbit.

Now that the tug has departed, the crew can deal with the return cargo. Keegan takes control of CD1 and brings it over to the stack of used modules.

Undocking the stack, she brings it around to Opportunity's cargo bay.

She then removes the two docking spacers from the stack of rover capsules and moves them to the forward cargo erector.

Now that the cargo has been placed in the bay, Keegan maneuvers CD1 back to its usual home on the end of the escape pod hub.

Payload Specialist Kennedy then folds the cargo stacks back into the cargo bay.

Now the crew gets a chance to relax and eat. Then they bed down for the night.

The next morning the crew of Opportunity bids farewell to Kerbin Station once more. They close the hatches and break away.

Opportunity burns for reentry, then cruises through the fire. Commander Koehler takes the yoke and guides her over the mountains and in to a perfect landing at KSC.

Now there should be plenty of fuel available to finish the construction of Farside Base. The next spaceplane flight will definitely see Independence bring the Minimus Station core module to orbit. We promise.

[TheSaint]

Munar Orbit Operations - Y1 D34

Meanwhile, in Munar Orbit, Orbital Tug 1 executes its rendezvous burns and arrives at Mun Station.

Captain Knoll takes control of the tug and guides it in to dock on the station's docking arm.

Now there is some housekeeping to take care of. First Knoll undocks the radio telescope and lab modules from the crew lander, Tycho, and uses the tug to move them to a different docking port.

Then XO Kenney brings the cargo lander online and undocks it from the docking adapter on the cargo drone, moving it to another berth.

Now Captain Knoll undocks the cargo drone and brings it around to dock the docking adapter at an unused port.

She then undocks the drone from the adapter and moves it to the adapter on Tycho's engine bell.

She then removes the adapter from the engine, and moves it over to dock with the first adapter, transforming the two adapters into one handy little 2.5-meter-diameter returnable package.

And then she moves the drone back to its parking spot on the core.

Now Kenney takes control of the tug, undocks the docking spacer from the radio telescope, and brings it all around to dock with the adapter wad Knoll just created.

In a short while, Mun Station reaches the departure point for Kerbin. Captain Knoll undocks the stack and backs it away from the station. Then Mission Control takes over, and the tug burns for Kerbin.

 

[TheSaint]

Mission 403 - Minimus Station Core and Cargo Drone

Okay, so back to Minimus Station. The cargo this time will be the station's core module, the nerve center of the station. Additionally they will be carrying one of the two cargo drones that will be making the trip out to Minimus as well.

Independence is next on the rotation for this mission. Her flight crew is as follows:

Commander Cleveland Kauffman
Pilot Jackie Kimball
Flight Engineer Herman Kinney
Payload Specialist Sierra King
Mission Specialist Lily Kemp
Mission Specialist Edwin Klinger

The ground crew tow Independence out to the runway for the mission. Kauffman throttles up to 100% and releases the brakes. Independence roars down the runway and takes flight! After soaring through their closed-cycle transition, they are back in space. They circularize, rig for orbit, then wait for their rendezvous burn.

Surprise! The first rendezvous burn is in five minutes! Everyone freaks out, but they've done this before. They get things in order and soon they're closing in on Kerbin Station for docking.

Once they're onboard, they greet the Kerbin Station crew, then they get to work. Payload Specialist Kinney erects the core module in the cargo bay.

Then Assistant Pilot Kearney brings Cargo Drone 1 around to dock with it.

Kearney extracts the core module with the drone, then maneuvers it around to dock with the compact truss module already docked on the docking complex.

He then undocks the drone and brings it back to its usual parking spot.

Meanwhile, Captain Koontz brings Cargo Drone 5 online in Independence's cargo bay. She undocks it and maneuvers it around to dock on the Minimus Station core.

Now that the work is done, everyone settles down to dinner. Then they all get a good night's rest.

In the morning, the crew of Independence closes the hatches and bids Kerbin Station farewell.

They burn for reentry, then brave the heat again.

And then the author got distracted and failed to take anymore screenshots the feed got cut. So there are no more shots of the mission. Sorry. But they did land safely. Scouts honor.

The next mission will bring up the habitation module for Minimus station.

Edited April 12, 2022 by TheSaint
Typos. So many typos.

[jimmymcgoochie]

@TheSaintenjoying this series so far.

Re. the really dark night-time screenshots, you should try using Minimum Ambient Lighting: it allows you to change the ambient lighting so that you can actually see what’s happening in the dark, and has day and night buttons that can be configured separately and toggled easily to avoid washing out daytime images. I’ve found it invaluable for documenting my own reports as I can actually see what’s happening, both in game and in the screenshots later.

[TheSaint]

6 hours ago, jimmymcgoochie said:

@TheSaintenjoying this series so far.

Re. the really dark night-time screenshots, you should try using Minimum Ambient Lighting: it allows you to change the ambient lighting so that you can actually see what’s happening in the dark, and has day and night buttons that can be configured separately and toggled easily to avoid washing out daytime images. I’ve found it invaluable for documenting my own reports as I can actually see what’s happening, both in game and in the screenshots later.

Thanks.

I had been playing around with the vacuum lighting in PlanetShine, but I'd never really been able to make it work the way I wanted it to. I'll give that mod a look.

[TheSaint]

Okay, added Minimum Ambient Lighting. Let me know if this works better for you folks.

----------

Kerbin Orbit Operations - Y1 D35

Orbital Tug 1 arrives back in Kerbin Orbit and parks itself at 800km.

Then a short while later it reaches it executes its rendezvous burns and arrives at Kerbin Station.

Mission Control hands control of the tug off to Assistant Pilot Kearney, and he guides it in to dock with Kerbin Station.

Unfortunately, the hydrolox tank at Kerbin Station doesn't contain enough fuel to refuel the tug for its next trip out to Minimus. So we all know what that means....

[TheSaint]

Mission 404 - Hydrolox Tank

...it's another milk run, folks! Liberty is geared up to run another hydrolox tank up to Kerbin Station to support continued tug operations to Minimus.

She is also fitted with a spare erector to carry down the excess adapters that Tug 1 brought back from The Mun. A tidy station is a happy station!

Liberty's flight crew is as follows:

Commander Charles Kern
Pilot Keith Kilpatrick
Flight Engineer Selma Knotts
Payload Specialist Clarice Kopp
Mission Specialist Cleo Kiser
Mission Specialist Gary Knight

Liberty's engines roar to life and she leaps off the runway for her ninth mission. She cruises through the air and transitions to closed cycle with ease.

She reaches orbit, burns to circularize, and the crew rigs for orbital operations. After her rendezvous burns, she arrives at Kerbin Station once more.

Pilot Kilpatrick then takes the docking controls and guides Liberty in to her berth on Kerbin Station's docking complex.

Now that they have arrived, they greet their old friends on the station, then get to work. Payload Specialist Kopp deploys the hydrolox tank in Liberty's cargo bay.

Then Captain Koontz brings Cargo Drone 2 online and docks it to the empty hydrolox tank on the station docking complex. She undocks the tank and moves it a short distance away from the station.

Meanwhile, Assistant Pilot Kearney uses Cargo Drone 1 to extract the new hydrolox tank from Liberty's cargo bay and maneuvers it around to its berth on the docking arm.

Once the new tank is clear, Koontz brings the empty tank in and docks it in the cargo bay.

And Kearney brings the new tank in to dock on the docking complex.

Now that the tanks are in their correct locations, Koontz brings Cargo Drone 1 around to its parking spot on the supply module.

Then Koontz brings Orbital Tug 1 online and undocks it from the stack of adapters it brought back from The Mun. She maneuvers it around Liberty and docks it on the opposite side of the docking complex.

Then Kearney undocks CD1 and brings it over to dock with the adapter stack.

He undocks the adapters and deposits them on the second erector in Liberty's cargo bay. Then he undocks the drone and returns it to its normal parking spot.

Now Kopp takes over again and folds the empty tank and adapters back into their stowed positions in the cargo bay.

Now it's time for another EVA to attach the manual struts to the empty tank, securing it for the return to Kerbin. Engineers Keenan and Killian will be doing the honors this time.

They use their EVA packs to maneuver over to Liberty's cargo bay.

Then they fix the port strut in place.

And then the starboard strut.

Then they make their way back to the airlock.

Now that the mission is complete, they all sit down for their post-mission dinner, then get a good night's sleep.

In the morning, the crew of Liberty closes the hatches and breaks away.

They burn for reentry, then fall through the plasma towards home.

Commander Kern then guides Liberty onto the glide path to KSC and brings her in to a landing.

Kerbin Station has now been reprovisioned with hydrolox fuel. The next spaceplane flight will continue to bring up more modules for Minimus Station. But, in other news, it is almost daybreak at the site of Farside Base!

[TheSaint]

Munar Orbit Operations - Y1 D36

Just a brief update: Orbital Tug 2 arrives in Munar orbit and circularizes.

It then performs its rendezvous burns and arrives at Mun Station.

Then Captain Knoll does the honors and guides it in to dock.

Normally the tug would grab the empty tank and head for Kerbin Station at the earliest opportunity. But in this case the outbound tank has some fuel left in it after fully refueling the lander, so the tug will linger until after the first cargo landing of the next Munar day, thus making sure that all of the fuel is used before the tank is returned. Waste not, want not.

Edited April 19, 2022 by TheSaint

[TheSaint]

Sorry, this week has been cuckoo-crazy-nuts IRL. But I finally got this mission report finished and uploaded.

--------------------------------

Mission 405 - Minimus Station Expansion Modules

Continuing the development of Minimus Station, the next mission will bring up expansion hubs to provide an initial docking capacity for the station. More hubs will be added later as the station becomes a major transportation center, but these will provide the initial capacity needed to ferry hardware destined for the surface of Minimus.

Freedom is carrying this load. Her flight crew is:

Commander Dominic Kozak
Pilot Elaine Kohn
Flight Engineer Clayton Kilgore
Payload Specialist Judi Keith
Mission Specialist Phillip Kemper
Mission Specialist Irwin Kimmel

After the ground crew has towed Freedom out to the runway, Commander Kozak runs the throttles up to 100% and releases the brakes, and Freedom leaps into the air!

Freedom reaches orbit and circularizes. Soon her crew has her gliding in to dock at Kerbin Station.

Once they are aboard, the crew make their greetings, and then they set about to delivering their cargo. Payload Specialist Keith deploys the expansion modules in the cargo bay.

XO Keegan fires up Cargo Drone 1 and brings it around to dock with the first expansion module.

Then she undocks the expansion module and moves it over to dock with the Minimus Station core module.

After the module has been docked, she undocks the cargo drone and brings it around to dock with the second expansion module remaining in Freedom's cargo bay.

She then undocks the expansion module and moves it around to dock with the expansion module already docked on the core module.

Once the second expansion module was docked, Keegan undocks the cargo drone and brings it around to its normal parking spot.

Now that their equipment has been delivered, the crew can settle in and carouse. They have a good dinner with the crew of Kerbin Station, tour the station to see the latest developments in the lab, then settle in for a good night's sleep.

The next morning the crew of Freedom say their goodbyes and close the hatches. Then they break away from Kerbin Station and burn for reentry.

After they brave the fire of reentry, Commander Kozak takes the yoke and guides Freedom in to land at the KSC runway.

While Mission 405 was ongoing, the construction of Farside Base began in earnest. We'll begin to see that in our next report.

Edited April 28, 2022 by TheSaint

[NuclearFish]

Very kool series, gonna follow them. Also, from winch mod is SSTO's cockpit, hydrolox engines, and cargo drone's engines?

Edited April 29, 2022 by NuclearFish

[TheSaint]

3 hours ago, NuclearFish said:

Very kool series, gonna follow them. Also, from winch mod is SSTO's cockpit, hydrolox engines, and cargo drone's engines?

Thanks, glad you're enjoying it.

So, the SSTO cockpit (the entire fuselage, actually) comes from Mark IV Spaceplane System and the hydrolox engines come from Cryogenic Engines, both by the incomparable @Nertea. Really, this entire mission report is an ode to his handiwork. 

The cargo drone's engines are just stock O-10 Puffs, although they may look different because I have Restock installed.

[NuclearFish]

7 minutes ago, TheSaint said:

Thanks, glad you're enjoying it.

So, the SSTO cockpit (the entire fuselage, actually) comes from Mark IV Spaceplane System and the hydrolox engines come from Cryogenic Engines, both by the incomparable @Nertea. Really, this entire mission report is an ode to his handiwork. 

The cargo drone's engines are just stock O-10 Puffs, although they may look different because I have Restock installed.

Yes, puffs look very differently from theit original. I like that scheme with trusses, they look like completely another part because of them. 

Also yes, Nertea is uncomparable. His mods are one of the clasics like mechjeb and restock. 

[TheSaint]

Munar Orbit/Surface Operations - Y1 D37

While Mission 405 was ongoing, the crew of Mun Station was also busy continuing the construction of Farside Base.

Captain Knoll brings the cargo lander around and docks it to the radio telescope and laboratory modules.

She then undocks the modules and fires the lander's main engine for deorbit.

The lander settles near the Farside Base site.

XO Kenney has Cargo Drone 3 fired up and ready to go. He brings it over and mates it with the laboratory module, then carries the module over to a spot next to the core module.

Once the laboratory module is parked, Kenney unlatches the cargo drone and brings it over to the radio telescope module.

Lifting the radio telescope module off of the cargo lander, Kenney uses the cargo drone to carry it to a spot about 100 meters to the east of the base site. He then lands it there and levels it. Once it is properly situated, he jettisons the module's fairing and has the drone carry away its upper docking port, which it discards a short distance away.

Kenney then guides the drone back and docks it with the pylon dispenser, which is currently located on top of the habitat module. He uses the drone to move the pylon dispenser to the top of the laboratory module, clearing the port on top of the habitat module for the supply module which will be brought down shortly.

Then Kenney moves the drone back to park on top of the monopropellant tank and refuels it.

When Mun Station has come around in its orbit again, Captain Knoll takes control of the cargo lander again and lifts off for Mun Station.

She guides the lander in to dock with the supply module, since that is the next (and last) module to that needs to be brought down to Farside Base.

Once the lander has been refueled, the outbound hydrolox tank is now empty. XO Kenney brings Orbital Tug 2 online and moves it over to dock with the empty tank.

Then, as Mun Station approaches the return point, Kenney undocks the tank and moves the tug away from the station. Mission Control takes control of the tug and has it perform its return burn.

Now the station is approaching Farside Base once again. Knoll releases the cargo lander with the supply module and deorbit burns.

She guides the lander down and lands it next to the base site.

Kenney is ready again with the cargo drone. He lifts it off and brings it over to the supply module, then carries the supply module over and deposits it on the habitat module.

Knoll then lifts off the cargo lander and brings it back to Mun Station.

While waiting for Mun Station to come back around in its orbit, Kenney decides to get ahead on some advance work down at Farside Base. He takes Cargo Drone 3 and moves the pylon dispenser to the monopropellant tank. (Which he probably should have done in the first place.)

Then he detaches the base of the pylon dispenser and begins laying out the pylons between the base core and the radiator tower, spacing them out roughly 30 meters apart.

When Kenney has placed the third module in the line, he discovers that the radiator and reactor modules were inadvertently placed roughly 10 meters too far from the base. They will need to be moved. He undocks from the pylon dispenser and moves the two modules to their proper locations. 

Then he picks up the pylon dispenser and heads back to the base site. He drops one additional pylon north of the base site to give the landers a connection to the base when they are landed, then he brings the pylon dispenser back to the monopropellant tank and docks it with its base again.

And, in one final bit of preparation, Kenney maneuvers the survey rover over to the landing pylon to give their lander a convenient aiming point.

Now all of the modules required for Farside Base have been brought down to the surface. So it is finally time for the crew to make the trip down and start connecting everything to bring the base together!

[TheSaint]

Munar Surface Operations - Y1 D37-38

So it is finally time for the crew of Farside Base to journey down to the surface of The Mun! They move their personal possessions into the lander, Tycho, and then close the hatches and break away from Mun Station.

Captain Knoll takes the conn and burns for deorbit.

She guides Tycho down and sets her down only a few meters away from the landing pylon.

Taking her lead as captain, Knoll is the first one down the ladder, the first kerbal to set foot on The Mun since the Kerpollo landings.

She is soon joined by XO Kenney and Chief Engineer Kohler. Together they survey the base site and discuss their plan of action.

First up, Kohler connects Tycho to the landing pylon.

Then he walks over to the base site to evaluate the base modules.

The massive base modules tower over him.

He is joined by Assistant Engineer Krebs, and together they begin aligning and joining the base modules. First the core module is aligned and joined to the airlock module.

Then the habitation module is aligned and joined to the core module. Once this has been completed, Araceli draws the short straw. She is tasked with running the line from the core module out to the radiator tower and the reactor. She pulls the connector out and begins her hike.

She pulls the connection line out and connects it to the first pylon. She then notices that the second pylon has fallen over and will need to be righted. She is so going to get Dwayne back for this.

She rights the second pylon, then draws its cable out and connects it to the third pylon.

And then she connects the third pylon to the radiator tower.

And finally she connects the radiator tower to the reactor. This is the last time anyone will be allowed to get this close to the reactor module.

With her work done, now Krebs has a 120 meter hike back to the base site.

Meanwhile, back at the base, Kohler is connecting the rest of the modules. First he connects the tank stand to the core module.

Then he connects the landing pylon to the tank stand.

And then, lastly, he connects the laboratory module to the tank stand with a cable. At this point, the monopropellant tank is completely dry, and the cargo drone is running dangerously low on fuel. So it has been decided to pause the construction process at this point until more fuel can be shipped up from Kerbin. Then the laboratory will be aligned and joined, and the pylons for the radio telescope will be deployed and connected.

But at this point, Farside Base has reached its habitability point! The crew congregate at the lander and then walk over to the airlock to enter the base together.

Once they are inside, Kohler and Krebs work together on getting the power online. They deploy the radiator panels and bring the cooling system online.

Then they bring the reactor critical. Farside Base is now habitable! After a long day of work, they enjoy a meal together, play a quick game of foosball, then settle in for the night.

[NuclearFish]

11 hours ago, TheSaint said:

 

@Nertea

 

Uhh forum got bugged. 

I suppose that you used wrong connectoon things to connect habitable modules. There were few types of them, and I think you used ones that can't put kerbals trough them. Even if that works, you just look at theese thin connections. Very rough diet, too rough to be possible on Kerbin

Edited April 30, 2022 by NuclearFish

[TheSaint]

9 minutes ago, NuclearFish said:

I suppose that you used wrong connectoon things to connect habitable modules. There were few types of them, and I think you used ones that can't put kerbals trough them. Even if that works, you just look at theese thin connections. Very rough diet, too rough to be possible on Kerbin

Uh, nope. I used the Mineshaft connectors from @Angel-125's most excellent Buffalo mod. They're KAS-enabled connector tubes sized for Kerbals. You can see them in the screenshots, like this one here:

[NuclearFish]

4 minutes ago, TheSaint said:

Uh, nope. I used the Mineshaft connectors from @Angel-125's most excellent Buffalo mod. They're KAS-enabled connector tubes sized for Kerbals. You can see them in the screenshots, like this one here:

Oh, I mixed them with KAS ones. I thought you connected habitable modulse with those yellow wires.

[TheSaint]

Mission 406 - Minimus Station Expansion Module & Farside Base Monoprop Tank

The next mission was supposed to carry up the last expansion module and the second cargo drone for Minimus Station, which would have completed the first load which was destined to be delivered to Minimus. However, due to the urgency of delivering a new monopropellant tank to Farside Base to complete the construction there, the cargo drone was left Kerbinside, and the monopropellant tank and its stand were pushed up on the cargo manifest.

Opportunity is carrying this cargo up, her seventh mission. Her flight crew is:

Commander Hannah Kinnard
Pilot Darryl Koehler
Flight Engineer Goldie Kennedy
Payload Specialist Stella Kunz
Mission Specialist Sydney Kirchner
Mission Specialist Bob Keen

As the ground crew drive the tugs away, Flight Engineer Kennedy gives the "Go", and Commander Kinnard runs the throttles up to 100% and releases the brakes. Opportunity roars down the runway and takes flight.

After reaching space, the crew performs their orbital insertion burn, and then rigs the ship for orbit.

While Opportunity is awaiting its rendezvous, Orbital Tug 2 arrives in Kerbin orbit and burns to enter its parking orbit.

Then, after performing their rendezvous burns, Pilot Koehler guides Opportunity in to dock at Kerbin Station.

Once on board, the crews say hello, then they get to work. Payload Specialist Kunz deploys the expansion module and monoprop tank in the cargo bay.

Then Assistant Pilot Koontz brings Cargo Drone 1 online and brings it over to dock with the expansion module.

He then extracts the expansion module and brings it over to Minimus Station, adding it to the two expansion modules already there, and "crossing the T".

Then he undocks the cargo drone and brings it around to dock with the monoprop tank and stand.

Then he extracts the monoprop tank and stand and brings them over to dock with the station docking complex.

Once the tank and stand are in place, he undocks the docking adapter from the stand and returns it to Opportunity's cargo bay. It won't be needed for any other use on the tank's journey.

Then he brings the cargo drone back over to its normal parking spot.

Then Executive Officer Keegan brings Orbital Tug 1 online. She undocks it and brings it over to dock with the monoprop tank.

Then, as Kerbin Station approaches the departure point for The Mun, XO Keegan undocks the stack and backs it away from the station. She turns the tug over to Mission Control, and they guide it through its burn for The Mun.

The last thing left to do is to secure the return cargo. Kunz lowers the docking adapter back into the cargo bay and locks the erector into place.

Everyone is happy that the mission has gone smoothly. They share their traditional meal, then settle down to sleep.

While the crew of Opportunity sleeps, Mission Control is bringing Orbital Tug 2 in to Kerbin Station. They perform the rendezvous burns, then as the tug approaches the station, Captain Koontz takes over control and guides the tug in to dock.

The next morning the crew of Opportunity bids Kerbin Station farewell. They close the hatches, break away, and burn for reentry.

Once things have cooled off a bit, Commander Kinnard takes the yoke and guides Opportunity in to land at KSC.

Now the monoprop tank is on its way to Farside Base, hopefully to arrive before Munar sunset there. Minimus Station is almost ready, it merely requires an additional cargo drone before it can begin its long journey to the outer moon.

Edited May 3, 2022 by TheSaint
Forgot about Orbital Tug 2.